This is the fourth annual statewide conference and it will be held for the first time in Bowling Green. The conference will be in Gary Ransdell Hall, the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-certified building at WKU that houses its College of Education and Behavioral Sciences. A tour of Richardsville Elementary School, which is the first net zero energy school in the nation, and information about the WKU-HFH Durbin Project, which is a statewide green infrastructure green building affordable housing community partnership project, are also part of the program – and one reason the conference is being held in Bowling Green.

“This will be the fourth year that students from WKU Campus Chapter will be in attendance at the conference. They receive valuable networking opportunities as well as knowledge that will be able to assist them in the future with responsibly assisting the Habitat for Humanity Organization,” added Bryan Reaka, Associate Professor of Architectural & Manufacturing Services and advisor of WKU’s HFH student chapter.

Sessions will include hands-on learning opportunities to help everyone meet ENERGY STAR, the new building code, and Green Standards for 2013 and beyond. The keynote speaker is Sam Rashkin, founder of the ENERGY STAR Program, Chief Architect Energy Building Technologies, U.S. Department of Energy. Other sessions will focus on energy efficient construction, rehabs, repairs, Energy Star, fundraising, social media, mortgage origination and new regulations, and Federal funding.

In addition to the Green Building Summit, a concurrent ENERGY STAR certification course will be offered for HVAC Contractors on April 19. The EPA requires any builder wishing to certify to ENERGY STAR 3.0 to use a certified HVAC contractor. There are only 14 certified contractors in Kentucky, so contractors are highly encouraged to register for this class.

You may register online by going to the following link: http://www.certain.com/system/profile/web/index.cfm?PKwebID=0x4533606b2d&varPage=home, then clicking on ‘Register’. Conference fees are $50 for each participant or $25 for additional attendees from an HFH affiliate; $10 for students; and $250 for the ENERGY STAR 3.0 certification for HVAC contractors. Registration includes the sessions, all materials, hotel, goodie bag, tour, and a Friday night BBQ. Registration is open until April 10.